BROAD GREEN PICTURES NEWS

Learning To Drive

In 2015, Broad Green released a trailer for the movie Learning to Drive. We at Broad
Green Pictures never meant to make any false or misleading claims about Randy Cohen
in that trailer. In fact, we never meant to say anything about Mr. Cohen at all. We are
sorry that anyone believed otherwise, and we have taken the trailer down from the
internet to make sure that no one else has that impression. To reaffirm our joint
commitment to free speech, Broad Green is donating $75,000 to the Committee to Protect
Journalism.

Richard Fay Joins Broad Green as President of Distribution

Revered distribution chief Richard Fay joins the Broad Green Pictures' team as President of Distribution. Fay will lead the distribution team in releasing the studio’s upcoming slate and will direct strategy regarding theatrical sales, exhibitor relations, in-theatre marketing, and all associated operations in these areas.

Fay brings over 40 years of experience to his new role, most recently serving as President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution for Lionsgate where he worked on The Hunger Games series, Divergent and Sicario, among many others. Prior to joining Lionsgate, Fay headed distribution operations for Summit Entertainment working on films including The Twilight Saga franchise and Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker. He spent a decade at AMC as President of Marketing and Film, leading the company as they expanded into megaplexing, and held executive roles at Sony Releasing Distribution, United Artists Distribution, United Artists Theatres Exhibition and Loews Theatres Exhibition. He got his start in the entertainment business as an Assistant Print Booker in New York City for Warner Bros. Distribution.

Joey King Lands Lead in Wish Upon

Joey King (The Conjuring, “Fargo”) has signed on to play the lead in Broad Green Pictures' horror thriller Wish Upon, which will be directed by John Leonetti (Annabelle). The movie is being produced by Busted Shark Production’s Sherryl Clark (Viral, Cloverfield) and was written by Barbara Marshall (“The Listener”). Production is expected to begin in the fall.
When 16-year-old misfit Claire finds a magic box that promises a chance at the life she’s always wanted, she never could have guessed that each wish would demand a deadly payment.

“I was mesmerized by Joey’s performance on the set of The Conjuring,” said Leonetti. “I am looking forward to watching her bring Claire to life in Wish Upon.”

Villa Capri, is a two-hander action comedy, in the vein of Midnight Run, about an ex-military operative (Tommy Lee Jones) and a smooth-talking former lawyer (Morgan Freeman) who have to put aside their petty rivalry to defend their beloved resort community against an imposing threat. Meanwhile, the ladies of Villa Capri are fending off a threat of their own, as a young beautiful newcomer (Rene Russo) enters the picture and seems to be stealing all the attention.

John Leonetti to Direct Wish Upon

John Leonetti, known for directing Annabelle and for his cinematography on box office successes including The Conjuring and Insidious, has signed on to direct Wish Upon, a horror thriller currently being developed by Broad Green Pictures. The feature, named to the 2015 Black List, was written by Barbara Marshall (“The Listener”) and will be produced by Busted Shark Production’s Sherryl Clark (Viral, Cloverfield).

When 16-year-old misfit Claire finds a magic box that promises a chance at the life she’s always wanted, she never could have guessed that each wish would demand a deadly payment.

“We are thrilled that John has come onboard to direct WISH UPON,” said Broad Green Pictures’ Chief Creative Officer Daniel Hammond. “His impeccable eye towards realism and talent for catching audiences off-guard will, without a doubt, make this film unforgettable.”

Broad Green Pictures to Co-Distribute Amazon’s The Dressmaker

Amazon Studios and Broad Green Pictures will co-distribute The Dressmaker in theatres September 23, 2016. Additionally, Broad Green will handle the home entertainment windows before the film premieres on Prime.

In this adaptation of Rosalie Ham’s best-selling novel, a glamorous dressmaker returns to her hometown in rural Australia to reconnect with her ailing mother and exact sweet revenge on the community that banished her as a child. As her plan unfolds, she finds love with a local man and success transforming the town with her exquisite creations.

Broad Green Pictures has acquired physical rights to the real life war dramas Citizen Soldier and Danger Close. Directed by David Salzberg and Christian Tureaud of Strong Eagle Media (SEM), Citizen Soldier will release on August 30, 2016: globally on VOD through Gravitas and domestically on Blu-ray and DVD through Broad Green Pictures. Danger Close is in production and will release in 2017.

Citizen Soldier is a dramatic feature film, told from the point of view of a group of Soldiers in the Oklahoma Army National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, known since World War II as the "Thunderbirds.” Set in one of the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan at the height of the surge, it is an intense, heartfelt grunts' eye-view of the war. As a real life, modern day “Band of Brothers”, they demonstrate bravery and valor under the most hellish of conditions, embodying one of the fundamental pillars of the warrior ethos: to never leave a fallen comrade behind. Using unprecedented footage from multiple cameras, and with no judgment or political point of view, Citizen Soldier immerses viewers using 100% real footage and details exactly what these members of the National Guard are going through on the front lines.

Broad Green Pictures Boards Villa Capri

Broad Green Pictures has finalized a deal to distribute Academy Award nominee Ron Shelton’s Villa Capri starring Academy Award winners Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones in the United States and to co-produce the film with eOne, Billy Gerber and Endurance’s Steve Richards. The movie will be released nationwide just ahead of the Labor Day weekend on August 25, 2017 and is slated to begin principal photography in New Mexico this summer.

Villa Capri is a two-hander action comedy in the vein of Midnight Run about an ex-FBI agent (Jones) and an ex-mob lawyer in the witness protection program (Freeman) having to put aside their petty rivalry on the golf course to fend off a mob hit.

Broad Green Boards Amazon's The Neon Demon

Amazon Studios and Broad Green Pictures will co-distribute The Neon Demon in theatres June 24, 2016. Additionally, Broad Green will handle the home entertainment windows before the film premieres on Prime.

When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will use any means necessary to get what she has. The much-anticipated film by Nicolas Winding Refn, which is in competition at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, stars Elle Fanning, Karl Glusman, Jena Malone, Bella Heathcote, Abbey Lee, Christina Hendricks and Keanu Reeves.

Matt Alvarez Named Broad Green Pictures' President, Production

Matt Alvarez has been named Broad Green Pictures' president of production. Alvarez will be responsible for identifying new projects and overseeing Broad Green’s slate of films, managing the process from development to final delivery. He will continue his role as producer on films he has in active development at the studio.

The appointment of Alvarez underscores the studio’s focus on financing, producing and distributing larger-budget commercial movies for broad audiences. Victor Moyers, president of physical production, will focus on ensuring that the ambitious production slate is executed. Chief Creative Officer Daniel Hammond will expand his overall management role within the company, with Alvarez handling the day-to-day management of the development and production team, a task Hammond and Moyers formerly handled. Marc Danon will continue as president, aquistions and co-productions.

Broad Green Pictures, Storyscape Entertainment, DMC Film Team Up for Entering Hades

Broad Green Pictures has closed the rights to Entering Hades, a project based on John Leake’s true crime novel. Storyscape Entertainment’s Bob Cooper (Amistad, John Tucker Must Die) and Richard Saperstein (Se7en, Hancock, 1408) have teamed up with Conor McCaughan (Assassin’s Creed, Slow West) and Daniel Emmerson (Assassin’s Creed) of Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender’s DMC Film to produce the film. Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman, The Revenant), who recently celebrated an Academy Award win for his work on Birdman is rewriting the screenplay with Fassbender eyed to star.

Entering Hades is the true story of Jack Unterweger, a celebrated Austrian journalist and best-selling author who led a double life investigating murders by day and killing by night – amassing a body count of 11 people across multiple continents.

Broad Green Pictures and Amazon today announced a multi-year output deal, which will make Prime Video the exclusive premium subscription home for Broad Green’s upcoming slate of theatrical films. Amazon Prime members will be able to stream or download films including A Walk in the Woods, 99 Homes, The Infiltrator, and more at no additional cost to their membership.

“The titles that we have released previously on Amazon have had great success, both in DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as streaming on-demand on Amazon Video. Working with Amazon to share our titles on Prime Video now gives us the ability to strategically promote our films across more platforms, to reach even more viewers,” said Steve Nickerson, President of Home Entertainment at Broad Green Pictures.

“We know our Prime members are always hungry for great entertainment and that’s what we aim to bring them,” stated Jason Ropell, Worldwide Head of Motion Pictures for Amazon. “Broad Green are producing critically-acclaimed, smart, and unique films that we know our Prime members will love watching on Prime Video.”

Broad Green Pictures is developing The Fight Before Christmas, a comedic holiday pitch from Daddy’s Home writer Brian Burns. Burns, who is also known for writing hit shows including the CBS dramatic TV series “Blue Bloods” and HBO’s “Entourage” will pen the script. The film will be produced by Matt Alvarez (Straight Outta Compton, the Ride Along franchise). After 700 years of marriage and feeling unappreciated for her continued Christmas contributions, Mrs. Claus leaves Santa just two weeks before the holiday. With the fate of the Christmas in jeopardy, Santa flies from the North Pole to New York to win her heart back and save Christmas.

Broad Green Pictures’ Gabriel and Daniel Hammond add “as we continue to grow, original productions like The Fight Before Christmas will become a bigger focus for the studio. We are confident that this film, under the leadership of Matt will help build a strong base for our library of audience favorites.”

Steve Miller Joins Broad Green to Oversee Creative Advertising

Broad Green Pictures has hired veteran creative executive Steve Miller to head the studio’s creative advertising team. In his new role as Executive Vice President of Creative Advertising, Miller will contribute to the overall campaign strategy, positioning films in the marketplace and managing the creation of advertising materials to support the strategy for all of the studio’s feature film releases. Throughout his successful career, Miller has been responsible for the positioning of films such as Hairspray, Final Destination 3, Die Another Day, Barbershop 2 and Amityville Horror. Most recently he headed creative services at A. Smith & Company where he oversaw the creation of all creative and sales content for new programming development. Previously, he headed the creative advertising divisions for some of Hollywood’s most well-respected studios including New Line Cinema and MGM/United Artists.

Veena Sud Signs on to Pen Remake of We Monsters

Veena Sud has signed on to pen a remake of We Monsters, the German film by director Sebastian Ko that was showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015 with reviewers heralding the diabolical nature of the characters and unexpected twists, for Broad Green Pictures. Sud earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for her writing for the critically-acclaimed The Killing, which she created and executive produced. The show ran from 2011-2014 and garnered a multitude of accolades, including six Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, a WGA Award and a Humanitas Award.

In We Monsters, a husband and wife struggle with their consciences after they try to conceal a terrible crime committed by their teenage daughter.

Lucy Walker Debuts Virtual Cinema Project at Sundance Film Festival

A History of Cuban Dance, premiering as a part of the tenth anniversary of Sundance Film Festival's New Frontier program, is a 5-minute visual feast charting the exuberant and spontaneous dances that embody Cuba's rich cultural heritage directed by multi-award winning documentary filmmaker Lucy Walker. Palpable and transporting, this live-action virtual reality documentary was filmed on location in Cuba and was made in association with Vrse.works, Pan Galaxy and Broad Green Pictures. The work-in-progress Sundance version of A History of Cuban Dance is available for download on the VRSE and Samsung Milk VR apps. A stereoscopic and upgraded audio experience will be released at a later date. Walker is currently in production on Buena Vista Social Club: Adios with Broad Green Pictures.

Shooting Begins on Bad Santa 2 - New Cast Members Added

Shooting has begun in Montreal, Quabec, Canada, on Bad Santa 2, the follow-up to the raucous comedy hit Bad Santa. Joining the previously announced cast are Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars, 2 Broke Girls), comedian Jenny Zigrino (50 Shades of Black), and Jeff Skowron (The Good Shepherd). Hansen will play Regent Hastings, who runs a charitable organization with his wife Diane (Christina Hendricks). Zigrino and Skowron play security guards Gina and Dorfman, respectively. The trio joins Billy Bob Thornton (television series "Fargo", Sling Blade, Simple Plan, Bandits) who is reprising his Golden Globe-nominated role as Willie Soke, and Kathy Bates (Misery, Titanic, Dolores Claiborne) who plays Willie's tough-as-nails mom Sunny Soke, as well as original cast members Tony Cox as Marcus and Brett Kelly as Thurman Merman. The film will be directed by Mark Waters (Freaky Friday, Mean Girls), is scheduled to hit theatres on November 23, 2016 and is being co-financed and co-produced by Broad Green Pictures and Miramax.

Bad Santa 2 Hits Theatres Nov. 23, 2016

Bad Santa 2, the follow-up to the raucous comedy hit Bad Santa, will be in theatres nationwide on November 23, 2016. The film stars Golden Globe nominee Billy Bob Thornton (television series Fargo, Sling Blade, Simple Plan,Bandits) as Willie Soke, Tony Cox and Brett Kelly, who reprise their roles as Marcus and The Kid, respectively, and Golden Globe and Emmy winner Kathy Bates (Misery, Titanic, Dolores Claiborne) as Soke's mom.

Michael Shannon Nominated for Golden Globe

Michael Shannon has been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for his role in 99 Homes. Shannon plays charismatic, gun-toting real-estate broker, Rick Carver. The nominations for the 2016 Gold Globes were announced in Beverly Hills on Dec. 10. Congratulations!

Sarah Silverman & Michael Shannon SAG Award Nominations

Sarah Silverman has been nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for I Smile Back. In the film she plays Laney, a wife and mom living a seemingly perfect life who is forced to face her painful past when the despair and reckless behavior she is hiding puts her in danger and begins affecting those she loves.

Michael Shannon has been nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for 99 Homes. Shannon plays Rick Carver, a ruthless and charismatic businessman who is making a killing by repossessing homes - gaming the real estate market, Wall Street banks and the U.S. Government.

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named Michael Shannon Best Supporting Actor for his role in 99 Homes during the 41st Annual LAFCA Awards. In the film, Shannon plays Rick Carver, a charismatic and ruthless businessman who is making a killing by repossessing homes - gaming the real estate market, Wall Street banks and the U.S. government.

Broad Green Inks First-Look Deal with Bob Cooper & Richard Saperstein

Broad Green Pictures has inked a first-look deal with industry powerhouses Bob Cooper and Richard Saperstein's newly-formed production company Storyscape Entertainment. "We are deeply impressed by Bob and Richard's eye for content and talent. They have long been leaders in our industry and we look forward to working with them to add dynamic films to our slate with projects beginning in early 2016," said Gabriel Hammond, CEO of Broad Green Pictures, and Daniel Hammond, the studio's Chief Creative Officer.

Broad Green Options Tennessee Williams Biography

Broad Green Pictures has optioned John Lahr's "Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh," chronicling one of the brilliant dramatist whose plays reshaped the American theater and the nation's sense of itself.

Broad Green has closed a deal to option Julie Klausner's memoir "I Don't Care About Your Band". Klausner, who created, wrote and starred in Hulu series "Difficult People", is attached to co-write the script. The book is about a woman in her twenties with vulnerability and no sexual guilt, who dates all the wrong men, and tries to survive a generation of guys who know more about love songs than love.

Billy Bob Thornton to Reprise Role in Bad Santa 2

Billy Bob Thornton will reprise his signature role in Bad Santa 2, the follow-up to the raucous comedy hit Bad Santa first released in 2003. Broad Green Pictures will partner with Miramax' to co-finance and co-produce the film. Broad Green will distribute Bad Santa 2 theatrically in the U.S. during the 2016 holiday season. "Bad Santa has been a part of our family holiday tradition ever since we all saw it together at our neighborhood theatre," said Broad Green Pictures CEO Gabriel Hammond and CCO Daniel Hammond. "We are excited to bring this memorable character and new chapter back to the big screen."

Congratulations to Michael Shannon who has been nominated for an IFP Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actor for his work in 99 Homes. In the film, Shannon plays Rick Carver, the charismatic and ruthless businessman who is making a killing by repossessing homes–gaming the real estate market, Wall Street banks and U.S. government. When he evicts Dennis Nash (played by Andrew Garfield), a single father trying to care for his family, Nash becomes so desperate to provide for his family that he goes to work for Carver.

ABOUT

Broad Green Pictures, founded by Gabriel and Daniel Hammond in 2014, is a fully-integrated movie studio that provides filmmakers with unparalleled development support, production infrastructure, and marketing resources to execute their vision from script to screen. Through collaborative partnerships, Broad Green shares incredible stories with the widest possible audiences. The studio creates and distributes theatrical films derived from in-house development and production, as well as acquisitions and co-productions across a multitude of platforms.

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Broad Green does not accept or consider any unsolicited scripts, concepts, loglines, ideas or any other materials, printed or electronic. Any unsolicited materials received by Broad Green will be deleted, returned, or ignored, at our discretion.